Sir David Davis argues for a retrial of Lucy Letby, citing concerns over evidence in her case
This is the first time the Commons has really dug into this case. Sir David has been looking into it for eight months. He’s known for standing up for civil rights and has fought for justice in other cases too.
Letby, a neonatal nurse, was sentenced to life for killing seven babies and trying to kill seven more back in 2015 and 2016. But since then, a lot of medical experts have come forward, questioning the evidence against her.
During a debate, Sir David shared that he initially thought Letby was guilty. But after talking to experts, he changed his mind. He pointed out that there wasn’t solid evidence against her, just a “gut feeling” from some doctors.
He mentioned that the hospital might not have had the right resources or skills to care for those fragile babies. It’s a serious claim, suggesting a miscarriage of justice.
He also highlighted that an inquiry found no link between Letby and the deaths, but the jury never saw that report. Plus, there was a dangerous bacteria outbreak in the neonatal ward at the time, which the jury didn’t hear about either.
Jesse Norman, an MP from Hereford, found Sir David’s comments really concerning. Meanwhile, the justice minister, Alex Davies-Jones, said it wouldn’t be right for her to comment on Letby’s case specifically.
She did acknowledge the families affected, saying they’ve been waiting for answers. There’s also talk that the Crown Prosecution Service might have messed up by not looking into the statistics properly.
Sir David pointed out that one of the key pieces of evidence was a shift chart showing Letby was the only nurse on duty during the alleged incidents. An expert in medical stats even said the prosecution’s case was weaker than another famous wrongful conviction case.
There’s new evidence coming to light, too. Some doctors have found alternative reasons for the deaths of two babies. Reviews are still ongoing for the other cases.
Sir David stressed that the hospital’s lack of resources and poor management played a big role in these tragedies. He’s worried that unless the NHS learns from this, more unnecessary deaths could happen.
Investigations are still going on, and Letby’s new lawyer is pushing for her case to be reviewed. The police are also looking into more potential charges related to baby deaths at the hospitals where she worked.
Sir David has a history of fighting for civil liberties and has been vocal about various issues in Parliament. He’s been around since 1987 and even ran for Tory leader back in 2005.
